Anishinabek Evening of Excellence recognizes community commitment
By Marci Becking
CHIPPEWAS OF RAMA FIRST NATION— The Anishinabek Evening of Excellence was held on August 24, 2022, at Casino Rama in Chippewas of Rama First Nation, and hosted by the Anishinabek Nation 7th Generation Charity. Lifetime Achievement Award recipients from 2020 and 2022 were in attendance, as well as Debwewin Citation winners and the 2022 Anishinabek Student Excellence Awards. The Anishinabek Education System Educator Excellence and Secondary School Scholarship winner were in attendance as well.
Masters of Ceremonies were Anishinabek Nation 7th Generation Charity Manager Jason Restoule and Anishinabek Nation Chief Executive Officer Marcia Trudeau-Bomberry and they began the evening by presenting the 2022 Anishinabek Student Excellence Awards.
Winners included Célyne des Ormeaux, Dokis First Nation; Josie Cormier, Red Rock Indian Band; Chett Monageue, Beausoleil First Nation; Kelly Nootchtai, Atikameksheng Anishnawbek; and Ethan Soucy, Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. The Anishinabek Education System Educator Excellence Award went to Candace Fisher of Nipissing First Nation. Alex Hebert, Dokis First Nation, was on hand to accept the Anishinabek Education System Secondary School Scholarship.
The Debwewin Citations are the first major awards intended to recognize and encourage excellence in journalism and storytelling about Indigenous issues by First Nations and other writers. The award name reflects the Anishinaabemowin word for “truth”, and the literal meaning is “to speak from the heart”. The 2021 Debwewin Citation recipient was Dr. Catherine Murton Stoehr and the 2022 recipient was Maurice Switzer.
The Lifetime Achievement Awards recognize individuals who have made a lifetime commitment to improving the quality of life on First Nations through volunteerism, political service, language preservation, health services, social services, personal achievement, cultural practice, and those who are survivors of residential school or who served in the military.
2022 Lifetime Achievement Awards
Martha Albert – Chippewas of the Thames First Nation
Tanya Alison Bressette – Kettle and Stony Point First Nation
Eldon French – Chippewas of the Thames First Nation
Chief Irene Kells – Zhiibaahaasing First Nation
Freda Martel – Nipissing First Nation
Patricia Nahwegahbow – Whitefish River First Nation
Brian Nootchtai Sr. – Atikameksheng Anishnawbek
Carmen Rogers Sr. – Kettle and Stony Point First Nation
The Late Mark Shawanda – Whitefish River First Nation
Donna McLeod-Shabogesic – Nipissing First Nation
Daniel Shilling – Chippewas of Rama First Nation
Debbie and Gary Steeves – Atikameksheng Anishnawbek
Patrick Stevens – Nipissing First Nation
Isadore Toulouse – Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory
2020 Lifetime Achievement Awards (ceremony held online in January 2022)
James Megwanabe – Whitefish River First Nation
Jim Meness – Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn
Rubina Nebenionquit – Atikameksheng Anishnawbek
Deborah Pegahmagabow – Wasauksing First Nation
Sandra Margaret Peltier – Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory
Linda Petahtegoose – Atikameksheng Anishinawbek
The Late Ferguson Plain – Aamjiwnaang First Nation
Hazel Recollet – M’Chigeeng First Nation
The Late Theresa Recollet – Whitefish River First Nation
Ivy Restoule – Dokis First Nation
William Swanson Sr. – Michipicoten First Nation
Mary Jo Wabano – Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory
Myles Webkamigad – Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory